{"id":903,"date":"2025-05-09T21:36:02","date_gmt":"2025-05-09T21:36:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/giantnews.us\/?p=903"},"modified":"2025-05-09T21:36:02","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T21:36:02","slug":"do-you-remember-this-tv-star-you-better-sit-down-before-you-see-her-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/giantnews.us\/?p=903","title":{"rendered":"Do you remember this TV star? You better sit down before you see her today.."},"content":{"rendered":"
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In the early \u201990s, millions watched as she grew up on TV \u2014 but just a few years later, cocaine addiction nearly claimed her life.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is the shocking story of Danniella Westbrook, one of the biggest soap opera stars the TV world has ever seen.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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A collapsed jaw<\/h2>\n

Once a household name on EastEnders<\/em>, a 16-year-old Daniella Westbrook captivated audiences with her fiery performance, becoming one of the UK\u2019s most beloved soap stars<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But behind the scenes, her rise to fame came at a steep price. Today, the actress faces the harsh realities of her past: crumbling bones, a collapsed jaw, and a shattered cheekbone \u2014 a consequence of years spent battling addiction.<\/p>\n

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So how did this talented actress end up here?<\/p>\n

Dreamed of fame<\/h2>\n

Daniella Westbrook was born in 1973 and grew up in Loughton, just outside London. From a young age, she dreamed of fame, and by the time she was seven, she had already launched her modeling career. Unlike many in the entertainment industry, Daniella didn\u2019t come from a showbiz background \u2014 her father was a taxi driver, and her mother worked as a shop assistant.<\/p>\n

Despite this, her career took off early. As a child model, she landed gigs with major global brands like Coca-Cola and Opel. One opportunity led to another, and before long, Daniella found herself stepping into the world of acting \u2014 an industry that would soon make her a household name.<\/p>\n

As a child, she played a young thief in Melvyn Bragg\u2019s London Programme<\/em> and even performed in the West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.<\/em> She also made a brief appearance in Grange Hill<\/em> and starred in the music video for Queen\u2019s The Invisible Man.<\/em><\/p>\n

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But perhaps the most ironic moment came when, at just 11 years old, she appeared as a background extra in EastEnders<\/em>, roller-skating across Albert Square.<\/p>\n

Her local newspaper even featured her picture with the caption: \u201cWho knows? One day she may be the show\u2019s star!\u201d Little did they know just how true that prediction would become.<\/p>\n

A dangerous addiction<\/h2>\n

By the time Daniella turned 16, her childhood dream of stardom was about to become a reality. She was put forward for a major role in EastEnders<\/em>\u2014Sam Mitchell, the feisty younger sister of Phil and Grant. After a successful audition, she made her official debut on the soap in July 1990.<\/p>\n

With her natural charisma and on-screen presence, Daniella quickly became a fan favorite, taking part in some of the show\u2019s biggest storylines. But after just three years, she shocked many by deciding to walk away in 1993, eager to explore other acting opportunities.<\/p>\n

Fame, however, wasn\u2019t done with her yet. In 1995, EastEnders<\/em> producers came calling again, offering her a chance to return to the role that had made her a star. It should have been her big comeback. But behind the scenes, Daniella was battling a dangerous addiction to cocaine \u2014 one that was slowly but surely beginning to take its toll on both her life and career.<\/p>\n

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Danniella Westbrook in character as Dawn Dillon for the comedy drama series Frank Stubbs Promotes, circa 1993. (Photo by TV Times via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Daniella Westbrook\u2019s downward spiral actually began long before she became a household name. She first tried cocaine at just 14, during a night out at a club. By the time she landed the role of Sam Mitchell in EastEnders<\/em> at 16, she was already a regular on London\u2019s party scene, and her drug use quickly escalated. What started as an occasional indulgence soon became a habit \u2014 Daniella later admitted to using \u201chalf a gram\u201d of cocaine \u201cmaybe once a week.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201dI was always in clubs and everyone was doing coke and it was glamorous \u2013 except obviously, it wasn\u2019t at all. I was just very young, very stupid and very easily led\u2026I think there should be someone at\u00a0EastEnders<\/em>\u00a0to say to young people when they come in, \u2018Look, your life is about to change, you\u2019re going to be invited places, and you\u2019ll be offered drugs,\u2019\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Spent over $300,000 on her addiction<\/h2>\n

A the addiction grew, so did the consequences. She began arriving late to work, her behavior became erratic, and her once-promising career was starting to slip through her fingers.<\/p>\n

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In 1995, her with cocaine addiction reached a breaking point, leading her to check into the Charter Nightingale Clinic in London. This rehab facility is known for treating several high-profile celebrities, including Michael Jackson.<\/p>\n

During the height of her nightclub-fueled lifestyle, Danniella admitted to spending a staggering $311,300 on her addiction. But the cost wasn\u2019t just financial \u2014 her spiraling substance abuse also destroyed her relationship with pop star Brian Harvey, adding yet another heartbreaking chapter to her downfall.<\/p>\n

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Daniella Westbrook poses during a photoshoot held in 1996, in England. (Photo by Stephen Perry\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201dI\u2019m every parent\u2019s nightmare. I\u2019ve done it all. I\u2019m constantly apologizing to my mom and dad,\u201d Daniella admitted after leaving rehab in 1995.<\/p>\n

Despite this, she continued using five grams of cocaine daily throughout her first pregnancy. At her lowest point, she admitted to multiple suicide attempts, consumed by the depths of her addiction.<\/p>\n

Stepping away from TV<\/h2>\n

By 1996, EastEnders<\/em> producers had seen enough \u2014 they made the difficult decision to write her out of the show. Despite everything, Daniella was given a second chance in 1999 when the showrunners decided to bring Sam Mitchell back to EastEnders.<\/em> Rather than recasting the role, they took a gamble on her once more.<\/p>\n

But by then, her addiction had reached a disturbing new low \u2014 years of cocaine abuse had destroyed her nasal septum. In a desperate attempt to keep her on-screen, producers resorted to filming her from angles that hid the damage.<\/p>\n

Throughout the 2000s, she was in and out of EastEnders<\/em>, sometimes playing Sam Mitchell herself, other times replaced by Kim Medcalf.<\/p>\n

Beyond the soap, she stayed in the public eye, appearing in reality shows like Dancing on Ice<\/em> and Celebrity Big Brother<\/em>. And despite stepping away from TV in 2016, she still makes headlines in the British press.<\/p>\n

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Her battles haven\u2019t just been career-related. Danniella has faced serious health struggles, including mental health issues. In a 2017 appearance on Loose Women<\/em>, she opened up about her diagnoses, saying, \u201cI have borderline personality disorder, I\u2019m bipolar, [paranoid] schizophrenia, I\u2019ve got lots of different things.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The health scares didn\u2019t stop there. In 2018, she was treated for womb cancer after a misdiagnosis. Thankfully, she was given the all-clear the following year. Then, in 2022, a sudden bout of sepsis landed her in the ICU\u2014but with fast treatment, she made a full recovery.<\/p>\n

Horrific car accident<\/h2>\n

And when it comes to her personal life, Danniella\u2019s relationships have been just as dramatic. In the \u201890s, she was in a long-term relationship with East 17<\/em> singer Brian Harvey before moving on to Robert Fernandez, with whom she had a son in 1996.<\/p>\n

But tragedy struck in 1998 when Danniella was in a horrific car accident. She was thrown through the windshield at 85 mph, suffering severe facial injuries, including a dislocated eye. Miraculously, after corrective surgery, she avoided permanent disfigurement.<\/p>\n

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Later that same year, she married Ben Morgan, a van driver she had only known for eight weeks. They relocated to Australia, but the whirlwind romance fizzled out, and they divorced in less than a year.<\/p>\n

Then came Kevin Jenkins, a businessman she wed in 2001, just months after the birth of their daughter, Jodie.<\/p>\n

For a while, Danniella seemed to be settling into a quieter life. After her stint on I\u2019m a Celebrity\u2026 Get Me Out of Here!<\/em> in 2003, she even declared she was done chasing fame, saying, \u201cThese days, I live an ordinary life. I work occasionally, but I also do the school run and laundry and prepare my family\u2019s dinner.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

But by 2014, her marriage to Kevin was over. And while she may have stepped away from the small screen, Danniella Westbrook\u2019s life has never been anything close to ordinary<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Danniella Westbrook today<\/h2>\n

As per 2025, Danniella continues to make headlines\u2014but these days, it\u2019s often due to her appearance rather than her acting career. Now 51, she has undergone multiple plastic surgeries over the years, some of which have led to painful complications.<\/p>\n

Last year, after having surgery in Turkey, she traveled to Portugal, where she struggled with severe pain. \u201dOnly I could go down to Portugal after an operation in the hospital. The pain I experienced was incredible, the worst in days. I feel like I have a hole in my head, literally,\u201d she shared on Instagram at the time.<\/p>\n

Danniella has faced heavy criticism from fans over her cosmetic procedures, and she has openly admitted to feeling anxious about the results. After getting liposuction, fillers, and Botox, she confessed, \u201dI can\u2019t lie. After the liposuction, fillers, and Botox, I was so swollen I thought I was going to burst and I think the medical team was tired of me asking if this was normal.\u201d<\/p>\n

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